Division Overhaul

The Trump Administration is preparing to restructure the IRS Criminal Investigation unit, potentially making it easier to investigate Democratic donors and groups, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Context

The IRS Criminal Investigation division, known as IRS-CI, investigates potential criminal violations of the tax code and assists other agencies in combating financial crime, including tax fraud, money laundering, and corruption. The unit has more than 2,000 agents who often carry firearms, distinct from the auditors and collectors who handle civil tax enforcement. 

According to a new Wall Street Journal report, the Trump Administration is planning to modify this division.

Restructuring Plans

The restructuring includes changes to IRS procedures regarding the role of chief lawyers in criminal investigations: Current IRS procedures require agents to work on cases with lawyers from the chief counsel’s office, particularly for steps like search warrants and bringing cases to the Justice Department for prosecution.